Tooth cleaning ball

ABSTRACT

This device is for the purpose of cleaning ones teeth and includes primarily, a resilient plastic or rubber ball which is chewed so as to clean the teeth. The device is provided with a plurality of groups of bristles along its outer periphery which serves the purpose of cleaning a person&#39;&#39;s teeth when they chew upon the device, the device having a hollow interior in which is carried a suitable dentifrice which is forced out of apetures through the wall of the device when it is chewed.

United States Patent 1191 Griffin 11] 3,853,412 Dec. 10, 1974 TOOTH CLEANING BALL [76] Inventor: Gerald D. Griffin, 2301 Birchmont,

Benidzi, Minn. 56601 [22] Filed: June 26, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 373,804

[52] US. Cl. 401/183, 15/104.93, 15/167 R,

128/62 A, 401/268 51 Int. Cl A46b 11/02 [58] Field of Search 18/210, 244, 167, 110,

18/244 R; 132/84, 93', 128/62 A; 15/l04.93, 104.94; 401/132 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,840,484 1/1932 Brown 128/62 A 2,778,045 1/1957 Bly et a]... 15/167 x 2,966,691 1/1931 Cameron l5/104.94

3,231,925 2/1966 Conder 15/167 R 7 3,452,382 7/1969 Kazdan 15/167 R UX Primary ExaminerPeter Feldman [57] ABSTRACT This device is for the purpose of cleaning ones teeth and includes primarily, a resilient plastic or rubber ball which is chewed so as to clean the teeth. The device is provided with a plurality of groups of bristles along its outer periphery which serves the purpose of cleaning a persons teeth when they chew upon the device, the device having a hollow interior in which is carried a suitable dentifrice which is forced out of apetures through the wall of the device when it is chewed.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures TOOTH CLEANING BALL This invention relates to dental devices for cleaning teeth.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide a tooth cleaning ball which will effectively clean a persons teeth when it is chewed upon within the persons oral cavity.

Another object of this invention is to provide a resilient tooth cleaning ball which will be hollow in its interior and will automatically dispense a suitable dentifrice from within which will effectively clean a persons teeth with the aid of the bristles.

Still another object of thepresent invention is to provide a tooth cleaning ball of the type described which will have a plurality of spaced apart openings spaced between groups of bristles, the bristles extending outwards from the outer periphery of the ball in a radial fashion.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a tooth cleaning ball which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and FIG. 4 is a side view showing another modified formof FIG. 3, showing bristles on one side thereof;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of still another modified form of the invention.

According to this invention, a tooth cleaning ball is shown to consist of a hollow plastic or rubber ball 11 which is resilient enough so as to be easily chewed upon when placed in a persons oral cavity.

A plurality of groups or clusters of bristles 12 are spaced apart and embedded within the ball 11 so as to act as cleaning elements between and over the teeth surfaces of the user.

On the interior 13 of device 10 is carried a suitable dentifrice with or without fluoride, the dentifrice being urged out of the plurality of spaced apart openings 14 when device 10 is chewed upon.

It will be noted that after a tooth cleaning operation,

device 10 is disposible.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the-drawing, a modified device 15 of rectangular configuration includes sides 16 having a plurality of spaced apart clusters of bristles 17 which are intermittently spaced with openings 18 from which the dentifrice from the inside is dispensed when device 15 is chewed upon.

Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawing, a modified rectangular body 20 includes bristle groups 21, the device 19 serving the same purpose as heretofore described of the main embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5 of the drawing, one will see another modified form of hollow resilient body 23 with rounded ends 24. Device 22 includes a plurality of spaced apart openings 25 for dispensing a dentifrice from the interior of device 22 in the same manner as .heretofore described. The body 23 of device 22 includes a plurality of clusters of bristles 26 which serve as cleaning element means for device 22.

What I now claim is:

l. A tooth cleaning ball device comprising a spherical and resilient body which is chewable and disposable, said body carrying bristles for use in conjunction with a self-contained and self-dispensed dentifrice within said body, said bristles being grouped in an equally spaced apart arrangement, said groups of bristles being imbedded within said resilient body, said bristles being radially spaced apart so as to effectively clean a persons teeth when said device is chewed upon within the oral cavity, wherein said body of said device is provided with a plurality of spaced apart openings, said spaced apart openings being alternate with said groups of bristles radially carried by said body of said device, and said openings provide a means for automatically dispensing of the dentifrice from the interior of said body, said dentifrice being urged out of said openings by the chewing action placing pressure upon said body of said devicewhen it is chewed.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said bristle groups of said body of said device are spaced apart and are resilient independently of said body of said device and the combination of said bristles and said dentifrice in contact with each other and said teeth, serve to effectively apply the necessary abrasiveness for dislodging food from a persons ,teeth when said device is chewed upon with said teeth. 

1. A tooth cleaning ball device comprising a spherical and resilient body which is chewable and disposable, said body carrying bristles for use in conjunction with a self-contained and self-dispensed dentifrice within said body, said bristles being grouped in an equally spaced apart arrangement, said groups of bristles being imbedded within said resilient body, said bristles being radially spaced apart so as to effectively clean a person''s teeth when said device is chewed upon within the oral cavity, wherein said body of said device is provided with a plurality of spaced apart openings, said spaced apart openings being alternate with said groups of bristles radially carried by said body of said device, and said openings provide a means for automatically dispensing of the dentifrice from the interior of said body, said dentifrice being urged out of said openings by the chewing action placing pressure upon said body of said device when it is chewed.
 2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said bristle groups of said body of said device are spaced apart and are resilient independently of said body of said device and the combination of said bristles and said dentifrice in contact with each other and said teeth, serve to effectively apply the necessary abrasiveness for dislodging food from a person''s teeth when said device is chewed upon with said teeth. 